Murder mystery dinner shows are often a fun way for amateur sleuths to test their crime-busting

skills while enjoying a meal with friends. This is the story of a man killed just hours after leaving

the theater.

Despite some good acting, the killer was no match with the skills of real life forensic scientists.

The movie. St. Michael's, a small waterfront community on the Maryland shore.

Spectacular views of the Miles River in Chesapeake Bay provide a relaxing escape from the hectic pace of daily life.

On Valentine's Day in 1998, a local resort offered couples the opportunity for a romantic getaway weekend. A chance to unwind, relax, play some golf, tennis, and enjoy one another.

The weekend also included an audience participation event, a murder mystery dinner theater production.

The first hour is generally a cocktail hour, and the actors are emoting during this whole hour,

and the audience can very readily see who is the bad guy, who hates who and why.

In the audience that night were Steve and Kim Rico from Laurel, Maryland.

Steve was a golf course ground superintendent.

Kim, a hospital surgical technician.

Ironically, the Ricohs were seated next to a real-life prosecutor and his date,

a probation officer.

Kim and her husband Steve were sitting there, and she jumped right up and said, Hi, my name's Kim and this is Steve. I was like, this is going to be a good table to sit at.

She's a friendly person.

She was very active in terms of trying to figure out what was going on in the play,

talking to various of the actors, trying to get insights into who might

be about to commit the murder that was going to happen in the play, and later on, who did

it.

By all accounts, the evening was a success.

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